John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. I. THE ANTIDOTE ITSELF. The text suggests — 1. The life-giving power of the Word of Christ. We all know something of the power of a word — of an orator on his audience, of a general on his army, of a friend on his tempted or afflicted associate. Hence, we may conceive how a saying of Christ may have power. He in fact is "the Word," and His "words are spirit and life." Thus we read that we are born again by it, and that it must dwell in us richly, which shows that the Word of Christ is the seed corn of the soul's life, which sown in the heart germinates into the tree of righteousness. 2. The reception which the Word of Christ requires. It is necessary that it should be listened to, understood and remembered: but all this may be done without the experience of its life-giving virtue. It must as seed be hid in the soul accompanied by the energy of the Holy Ghost. We do not keep it unless we live in Christ, walk in Christ, and have our whole being fashioned after Him. Without this literary knowledge and controversial defence of it are worthless. 3. Here we see — (1) The proof of the conscious Divinity of our Lord. None else ever dared to say this. (2) The extent of His life-giving power. This wonderful saying is confined to none. (3) The necessity of a Christian life here. The antidote must be applied before the mischief has done its last and fatal work. II. THE OPERATION OF THIS ANTIDOTE. 1. Negatively. Not exemption from the common lot. (1) Constantly occurring facts forbid this. The righteous man dies as well as the sinner. (2) The necessities and frailties of our own frame forbid this. We no sooner begin to live than we begin to die. (3) Scripture forbids this. 2. Positively. The leading thought is brought out fully in John 5:24. (1) The penalties of the second death will be avoided. (2) The terrors of physical death will be mitigated. (3) The consequences of physical death will be overcome. (4) The soul's highest life will be perfected.Conclusion — 1. See the power of Christianity. Nothing else can conquer death — no philosophy, morality, religion. 2. Hence the importance of keeping the saying of Christ — not admiring it merely. 3. What solace does this truth afford a dying world? (H. Gammidge.) Parallel Verses KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.WEB: Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death." |
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